The last Lycoming County Commissioners Meeting of 2023, held on December 28th, was sort of like watching the third film in the “Lord of the Rings” trilogy. Every time it seemed to be over, one more scene popped up. The “Return of the King” lasted three hours and twenty-one minutes, and when the commissioners’ meeting
Approximately 100 Office of Price Administration agents, police officers, and other state, county and borough enforcement personnel began “spot-checking” today in Lycoming County for violators of the new “no pleasure” driving order to conserve supplies of gasoline. Clarification of how the government would put the teeth in the order came at noon when O.P.A. representatives
The Genetti Hotel will be rocking with the sounds of the Blues when the Cadillac Cats, a noted area Blues band in their own right, presents the Winter Blues Bash from 7 to 10 p.m. on Friday, January 12. The Cadillac Cats hope to make this an annual event each year in January to help
No matter how much a person may have studied or prepared for a new job or occupation, the cold water of reality hits almost immediately. Sooner than later, many ask themselves, “Dear God, what have I got myself into?” In previous columns, I have noted my own awakening to serving in local government. For this
The turn of one year to another year, 2023 to 2024, is always a time of transition and change, and very often, some events of great importance, and that transition from 1958 to 1959 — 65 years ago — was no exception. In the days leading up to the beginning of the New Year, the
This marks my eighth year of covering county government, and I am being very honest in saying that I enjoyed this year above them all. I am a person who likes to focus on the positives and not just dwell on the negatives, and there were many positives for the county in this past year.
While most cities during the past year were busy trying to hold their own and keep going, Williamsport, a survey shows, not only maintained its regular industries, but added several more to its already diversified list. Industries that have been established in the city continued to grow and, in several instance, made extensive improvements in
The one comment I receive more often than any other from this column is the discovery of the role of county government. Most citizens focus their attention to local government and those who are directing it: city or borough council members or township supervisors. This is normal because Pennsylvania was designed this way. Townships and
Williamsport’s community Christmas tree celebration Tuesday evening was a great success in spite of the inclement weather. The tree had been repaired and rebuilt it is now one of the most symmetrical the city has had, and the lighting is so perfectly placed that the illumination is splendidly balanced and the effect beautiful. In spite
When Christmas was celebrated 93 years ago in 1930, the country was in the middle of a dire economic downturn that would become known as the Great Depression. The year 1930 saw men, women, and children waiting in breadlines and going to soup kitchens in order to receive basic sustenance for their bodies. Those who
The federal government in Washington, has an advantage that state, county, and municipal governments do not have. These governments must have the money to meet their budgets through either taxes, grants, or investments. The federal government has these as well, but it also has the ability to create money. They literally represent the saying, “Money
As Christmas shoppers scurry around doing their Christmas shopping, it might be good to remember the golden days when downtown Williamsport was the retail center of northcentral Pennsylvania. There were department stores such as L.L. Stearns, Bush and Bull, Penney’s, Sears and Roebuck, and the Carroll House. The Carroll House was one of downtown Williamsport’s
